Store History

Founded by:
Laura Oakes

Anyone who frequents the home floor of London's Liberty department store will be familiar with the work of Laura Oakes. The British designer and illustrator's popular lampshades are sold there, but her flagship store in Rye, Sussex has even more to offer.

Laura's signature vintage style, which relies heavily on bright color and pattern, has won her wide acclaim in the world of British design. Her illustrations blend personal photography with vintage imagery and illustration, and she applies these to a wide range of home accessories.

The Laura Oakes store stocks lighting, cushions and re-vamped vintage furniture, as well as smaller items like mugs, bunting and one-off framed prints. Plans for a range of fashion accessories, including fluid silk scarves, are in place for later this year. Laura would eventually like to extend her home range to include such items as bedding and wallpaper, but tells me that her commitment to 100% UK production means that finding the right manufacturers for her products can be an obstacle.

In the meantime, this shop has a lot to offer, and is definitely worth a visit if you're planning a day trip from London.